Shelf structure



Oct. 11, 1955 c. ETRICK 2,720,318

SHELF STRUCTURE Filed May 17, 1954 CLEMENS ETe/cK United States Patent SHELF STRUCTURE Clemens Etrick, Calumet City, Ill.

Application May 17, 1954, SerialNo. 430,281 4 Claims. Cl. 211-153 My invention relates to improvements in shelf structures utilized primarily in medicine chests, or medicine cabinets.

An important object of my invention is to provide a removablyinsertable shelf structurehaving toothed means for engaginginwardly formed lug portions on the liner of a cabinet so that the same will be engaged and held in rigid arrangement. h

Another object of my invention is to providein a shelf structure of the aforementioned character triangularly formed end flanges each being provided with a plural number of toothed means for engaging the lug portions heretofore mentioned.

Another object of my inventionisto provide a bottom shelf structure which isprovided with a reenforcement ledge at the rear thereof and an upwardly extending frontal ledge to prevent articles deposited on the said shelf from beingaccidentally pushed off from the shelf.

A still further object of my invention is to provide in an intermediately positioned shelf structure of the aforementioned character a rearwardly formed downwardly depending reenforcement flange and a frontal upwardly extending ledge portion to prevent articles supported on the said shelf structure from being accidentally thrown off.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a bottom shelf element which is provided with upwardly extending end flanges, and having indentations in the said flanges for engaging the said bottom shelf structure in snap-on and snap-off relationships with respect to bolt heads securing the liner element of the said medicine cabinet to a wall to which it may be secured.

A still further object of my invention is to provide shelf elements of the aforementioned character which are made of rust proof material, and which are of such simple elemental construction as to warrant economical manufacture thereof in quantity production.

Other objects and ancillary advantages inherent in my invention will become apparent from an examination of the accompanying drawings, bearing further elucidation in the ensuing description, wherein like symbols are used to designate like parts, and in which;

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a fragmentary portion or section of a medicine cabinet or structure of conventional construction.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken, substantially, on lines 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken, substantially, on lines 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken, substantially, lines 44 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken, lines 5--5 of Fig. 3.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, my invention is generally designated 6, indicating an intermediately positioned shelf structure or element, and 6' indicating a bottom shelf structure or element.

The drawings indicate that the framework of the medisubstantially, on

cine cabinet, designated 7, is provided with a metallic liner on each side, designated 8, the said metallic liner having flange at the rear thereof designated 12, and an upwardly extending frontal ledge 13 to protect articles supported on the platform 11 from being accidentally thrown off when reaching for certain bottles or jars located on the said platform 11.

The said platform 11 at each end is provided with downwardly depending attaching aprons 14, which are of substantially triangular configuration, the apex of the triangular portions 14 terminating in an engaging toothed portion 17 and an intermediate toothed portion 16 being also formed by cutting out an opening 15 as indicated, so that the same will straddle the lug 9 and permit the toothed portion 16 to engage the pocket portion 10 thereof. The toothed portion 17 will engage the pocket portion 10 of an adjacent lug portion 9, as indicated in Fig. 5, thus affording rigidity and security for the shelf element, which at the same time may be removed and placed at different heights Within the cabinet structure 7, so as to accommodate articles of varied heights and dimensions.

The bottom shelf portion is madeup of metal, preferably stainless steel, and the said element 6 consists of a supporting platform 25 which rests on the bottom portion 26 of the medicine cabinet 7. The ends of the platform 25 are arcuately bent, as indicated at 22, in. order to form the upwardly extending flanges 27. The material being of a resilient nature will cause the upwardly extending flanges 27 to hug closely Within the confines of the liner 8. The end flanges 27 are provided with indentations or detents 21 for engagement in snap-on and snap-ofl relationships with the bolts 23 or the heads 24 of the bolts 23 which are embedded in the wall 18 and which support the framework 7 of the medicine cabinet. The bottom shelf thus can, with the exertion of a little effort, be removed and replaced by flexing the flanges 27 inwardly to cause the indentations 21 to become disengaged from the bolt heads 24 and conversely to engage the same when it is desired to secure the shelf in place.

The bottom shelf element, like the intermediate shelf element, is provided with an extending reenforcement flange 19 which extends upwardly at the rear thereof, and an upwardly extending frontal ledge 20 to prevent articles deposited thereon from being accidentally knocked ofii. The said shelf structures 6 and 6' may be used in the medicine cabinet as indicated in Fig. 1, and thus the articles supported on the shelves will be protected against accidental breakage and dropping from the shelves while other bottles or jars are selectively taken from the shelf.

The intermediate shelves may be positioned at various points inasmuch as they can be removed, in order to accommodate articles of diiferent heights. The liners 8 are provided with a multiplicity of evenly spaced lugs 9 throughout their entire length on both sides so as to accommodate the intermediate shelf structure 6 or a number thereof in any desired spaced relationship within the range afforded by the spaced relationship between adjacent lug portions 9.

I believe I have herein illustrated and described the nature of my invention, and expounded, in expository form, the teachings so that those familiar with the art will be able to practice my invention. Inasmuch as the same is susceptible of many modifications, alterations, and improvements, I hereby reserve the right to any improvements, alterations and modifications coming within the scope and spirit of my invention and disclosure, also the right to any improvements impliably embraced in the accompanying illustrations depicting the generally suggested elemental structure of my invention, and also any modifications, improvements, or alterations, falling within, the purview of the foregoing description; my invention to be limited only by the subj oined claims.

Having thus described andrevealed my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

i 1*. A shelf structure madeof rust-proof sheet material, comprising a platform, an attaching flange. at each end thereof, and plural toothed means on said attaching flanges for removably securing the same to means within the: interior confines of a cabinet, said means including evenly spaced engaging lugmeans interiorly of said cabinet, said plural toothed means being in vertical alignment on the said attaching flange for releasable engagement with a pair of adjacent engaging lug means, one 'of'said; toothed means; being formed intermediately on said attaching flange defining an opening adapted to straddle one of said engaging lug means.

21. A shelf structure made, of rust-proof'sheet material, comprising a platform, an attaching flange at each end thereof; plural, toothed means. on said attaching flanges for removably securing the same to means within the interior confines of a cabinet, a depending reenforcement flange at therear portion of said'shelf structure, said means including evenly spaced engaging lug means interiorly of said cahi'net, said plural toothed means being in vertical alignment on said attaching flange for releasable engagement with a pair of adjacent engaging lug means, one off said toothed means being formed intermediately on said attaching; flange defining an opening adapted to. straddle oneof said'engaging lng means. 7

3'. A shelf structure made of rust-proof'sheet material, comprisinga platform, an attaching flange at each end thereof; pluraltoot-hedmeans on said attachingfl'anges for removably securing the same to means within the interior confines of a cabinet, an upwardly extending frontal ledge portion on said shelf structure to prevent accidental knocking off articles deposited thereon, said means including evenly spaced engaging lug means interiorly of said cabinet, said plural toothed means being in vertical alignment on said attaching flange for releasable engagement with a pair of adjacent engaging lug means, one of said toothed means being formed intermediately on said attaching flange defining an opening adapted to straddle one of said engaging means.

4. A, shelf structure. made of rust proof sheet material, comprising a platform, an attaching flange at each end thereof, plural toothed" means. onsaid attaching flanges for removably securing the same to means within the interior confines of a cabinet, a depending reenforcement flange at the rear portion of said shelf structure, an upwardly extending frontal. ledgeportion on, said shelf structure to prevent accidental. knocking ofi articles deposited thereon, said means including evenly spaced engaging lug,

meansinteriorlyof said cabinet ilk-191M 1: to t e -m being in, vertical alignment on said! attaching flange for releasable engagement with apairof adjacent engaginglug,

means,, one: of, said toothed means. being formed interme? diately on said attaching flange defininganopening adapted to straddlaone. of said engaging lug ,means..

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES; PATENTS,

350,934 Koch Oct. 19, 1886' 1 ,062,901 EntwiSt-le May 27-, 1913 1 ,336,345 Cornelius- Apr; 6, 1920- 2,026',223 Donnell-yet'al Dec. 31, 1935 2,303,663 Kneedler Nov. 24, 1942- 2,528,807 Whitney Nov. 7, 1950 

